BIRDS SEEN. 53 



m 



themselves to the skin by plunging their proboscis into it, 

 and thus suck the blood until their flat bodies were dis- 

 tended into a globular form. 



It was very curious that so few birds were seen about 

 the ruins. Among those observed were the Guatemalan 

 Woodpecker, Uxmal Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hum- 

 mingbird, Mexican Kingbird, and a single specimen, which 

 we obtained, of Gray's Thrush. Glandina Cylindi-aca', one of 

 the most abundant mollusks of Yucatan, was found here in 

 considerable numbers. Another abundant species was the 

 Chondroponia La7-gillierti, a. beautiful yellowish-white shell 

 with rows of brown spots. Bulimulus iropicalis and Cyclotus 

 Dysoni, a beautiful ribbed species, and a Helicinay were the 

 common forms seen. One new variety of Cylindrella was 

 found (C. spelunca, var. diibid). A single snake [Dryophis 

 Julgidus) was seen and captured. A rabbit was also seen, 

 but not obtained. Insects were not seen (excepting the 

 troublesome garrapatas). 



It was with much regret that we left the region without 

 visiting the other ruined cities of the country — Chichen Itza, 

 Xampon, Kabah, Chunhuhu, etc. — and comparingtheirarch- 

 itecture with that of Uxmal and Labna. The predominating 

 character, however, was that they were all built upon arti- 

 ficial pyramids or terraces. A truncated pyramid supported 

 a building of greater or lesser dimensions. The walls were 

 very thick, many of them faced on the interior with carved 

 stones, and presenting richly sculptured fagades, sculptured 

 in bas-relief. Human heads, figures of men and animals, 

 and hieroglyphics consisting of squares, scrolls, and other 

 geometric figures, constituted the principal ornamentation. 

 Although these ruins have been studied by the most famous 

 archaeologists of the present century, yet little is known 

 concerning their history. A short stop was made at the 

 Hacienda of Tabi, and then we started for Ticul, arriving 

 there shortly after dark. 



